Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
Best side cutters?
raffrecon
Joined: January 01, 2011
KitMaker: 266 posts
Armorama: 258 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 12:03 PM UTC
Hanks, Carlos
panzerbob01
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 12:58 PM UTC
Quoted Text
As we’ve moved onto counting the number of seconds of time saved per cut (something I never even think about when it comes to such matters), I found myself idly wondering how much of our potential modelling time is spent reading and posting to DGs......
Well, Robert L., I think I've been enough into this thread to have clipped and maybe trimmed several hundred tiny bits, even given my absolutely lightening-like speed of doing so!
I think I need some kind of tool that will really save me a LOT of time - not just a few secs per bit - on my next several thou parts just to make up for this very interesting diversionary jaunt! 
babaoriley
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 01:05 PM UTC
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The thing that makes me hesitate from buying GH is they're pricey and there are many accounts of them wearing out fairly fast--I don't want to buy a new set every few models.
Mine still has a perfect blade after 2 years but I use them as a special tool, where I can take advantage of its qualities, if not I use the Plato's that I pay a few bucks and do their dirty job very well where I don't need a perfect cut and flush with the piece.
Thanks, that's the sort of feedback I was hoping for. Your approach makes sense. Use the cheap tool where it won't matter, save the good one for where it will make a difference.
brekinapez
Joined: July 26, 2013
KitMaker: 2,272 posts
Armorama: 1,860 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 01:46 PM UTC
This has been a slow news weekend.
Vicious
Joined: September 04, 2015
KitMaker: 1,517 posts
Armorama: 1,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 11:20 PM UTC
Personally I prefer this type of discussion then the rivet counters one’s....I love my tools
alanmac
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Monday, July 08, 2019 - 06:25 AM UTC
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Lets face it, regardless of the various eloquent replies no one is going to change their minds based on what we write in this thread.
I'd disagree with that, despite the difference in opnions the discussion would have piqued the interests of some readers, who'd take the plunge. That's why participating in this thread isn't such a waste of time, or so I told myself
I was actually referring to the people posting in this thread about their choices,reasons, and justifications not the readers, which at the last count was over 3000. Wow...as someone said a slow news weekend.
ctkwok
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Monday, July 08, 2019 - 07:22 AM UTC
It's surprising that there wasn't a previous thread on Armorama. Either way it seems there should be a review or a comparison of them on the site. If there is a demand on it perhaps I'd write one?
panzerbob01
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Monday, July 08, 2019 - 09:05 AM UTC
Quoted Text
It's surprising that there wasn't a previous thread on Armorama. Either way it seems there should be a review or a comparison of them on the site. If there is a demand on it perhaps I'd write one?
You could be stepping right into the fire with that proposal, Cody!
Sprue-cutters (both purpose-built/sold as "formal" sprue-cutters and various electronics side-cutters seconded to be sprue-cutters in modeler's tool-boxes) are, I suspect, among the most widely-used tools plastic modelers have. We "all" use them. So, in a sense, we should all be interested in knowing something about them, I suppose.
But what, actually, are you thinking you would "/review" or compare?
IF it's to be a comparison among, say, the name-brand cutters mentioned in this thread, your audience may well not much include all those who don't have them and those who are not looking for such an expensive tool - even if they are thinking of getting a new cutter of some sort. Not to say that a comparison among those wouldn't be of interest to some, but it wouldn't likely matter to many.
There could, one the other hand, be some sort of critical test-based (whatever those tests may be...) comparison between cutters at different cost-points in the cutter-spectrum - this could be of broader interest, or certainly reach into a different audience. Folks, such as myself, may find some technical comparison between the mentioned higher-end tools and the sort of basic tools we currently use of great interest... Most of us cheapo-cutter-users won't go buy some expensive cutter just to try it out. But we MAY be interested in getting such a tool were it "objectively" shown to be actually substantially better at what we use cutters for.
That's the "critical test-based comparison" element.
It's like model-kit reviews. I suspect that many of us modelers much prefer good build-reviews - which tend to be "critical" and expose warts and ID issues as well as show how things go together - over in-box reviews. And we likely get more out of those in-boxers which try to delve more into both historical detail accuracy and quality of moldings - often as compared to other maker's kits of similar subjects - then we do out of short reviews which show us sprue-shots and make vague comments about the parts.
I would gladly read (oops! There go another bunch of seconds I'll need to save per-part on some next 1500-bit kit to begin to keep up with modeling!
) a critical comparison that actually tried to sort out how some cutter tools do usefully better then do others. That would be valuable, I think.And doing that would, I suspect, be pretty tough! But Go For It! PLEASE!
Cheers! Bob
babaoriley
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 09:22 AM UTC
Now look what you guys did. You got me thinking about the GH cutters and I found a U.S. supplier with a good price and free shipping, so guess what? Just tried them, and I have to admit, "like butter" sums it up. I'm going to follow the practice of one poster who said he reserves them for the jobs where that kind of quality will matter, and use the brand-x chompers for where it doesn't matter.
He who dies with the most tools wins, right?
He who dies with the most tools wins, right?
Vicious
Joined: September 04, 2015
KitMaker: 1,517 posts
Armorama: 1,109 posts
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 10:49 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Now look what you guys did. You got me thinking about the GH cutters and I found a U.S. supplier with a good price and free shipping, so guess what? Just tried them, and I have to admit, "like butter" sums it up. I'm going to follow the practice of one poster who said he reserves them for the jobs where that kind of quality will matter, and use the brand-x chompers for where it doesn't matter.
He who dies with the most tools wins, right?
Welcome to the Dark side of sprue cutters!!...."He who dies with the most tools wins, right?"..if work so i think i am ready for the Valhalla....
TopSmith
Joined: August 09, 2002
KitMaker: 1,742 posts
Armorama: 1,658 posts
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 05:08 PM UTC
So Doug who was the supplier?
babaoriley
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 05:35 PM UTC
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So Doug who was the supplier?
https://www.ebay.com/usr/zi9720?_trksid=p2047675.l2559
Shipped the same day with a tracking number, $44.99 delivered, his profile says he's sold over a thousand of these. I know some folks are leery of eBay, but I'd say this seller is legit, I certainly have nothing to complain about.
M4A1Sherman
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2019 - 08:06 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextNow look what you guys did. You got me thinking about the GH cutters and I found a U.S. supplier with a good price and free shipping, so guess what? Just tried them, and I have to admit, "like butter" sums it up. I'm going to follow the practice of one poster who said he reserves them for the jobs where that kind of quality will matter, and use the brand-x chompers for where it doesn't matter.
He who dies with the most tools wins, right?
Welcome to the Dark side of sprue cutters!!...."He who dies with the most tools wins, right?"..if work so i think i am ready for the Valhalla....
Hi, All!
"He who dies with the most tools wins, right?"
Nooo, "He who dies with the most tools" only winds up with with a drawer, or tool chest, etc, full of tools which won't ever get used again, and an empty wallet...
I don't fall into that trap, anymore... I have enough "no-longer-used tools" to last me until "whatever"...
babaoriley
Joined: June 23, 2017
KitMaker: 195 posts
Armorama: 179 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 06:04 AM UTC
Quoted Text
"He who dies with the most tools wins, right?"
Nooo, "He who dies with the most tools" only winds up with with a drawer, or tool chest, etc, full of tools which won't ever get used again, and an empty wallet...
I don't fall into that trap, anymore... I have enough "no-longer-used tools" to last me until "whatever"...
My approach is to conspicuously use a new tool to do something my wife had put on the list, that keeps me out of trouble on that front. But beyond that I've had good use out of almost every tool I've ever bought, in part by thinking outside the box. Just the other day I used a Japanese nail set to fix a flashlight that had stopped working, must have been that modeler's determination to find a way no matter what the scale, 1/35 or 1/1.
taylorrl
Joined: January 31, 2019
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 06:32 AM UTC
I used the Xuron side cutters for years. Then one of my modeling friends let me use his GodHand. I drove the local hobby store the next morning and bought one. The Xuron feel like a chain saw and the GodHand is more like a scalpel. The GodHand cuts flush with the part leaving little to no nub. They are the only way to de-sprue the small delicate parts. Using the GodHand I can cleanly remove delicate parts that I previously struggled with using a scalpel or a razor saw. I now use the GodHand for every thing but cutting up the sprue itself. I've been using mine for 2 years with no dulling. They are expensive and worth every penny.
Rick
Rick
panzerbob01
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2019 - 12:47 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I... The GodHand cuts flush with the part leaving little to no nub. They are the only way to de-sprue the small delicate parts. Using the GodHand I can cleanly remove delicate parts that I previously struggled with using a scalpel or a razor saw. ...
Rick
Well.... Now I finally KNOW, after all these years of modeling without ever seeing one of these GH sprue-cutters, why it is that I never seem to ever get any of the really tiny delicate parts off those darned sprues and onto any of my builds!
Just kiddin' Bob
PS: It's a sharp #11 knife and the sprue pressed onto the sticky side of a piece of blue painter's tape, for me. My carpet monster never got a meal in over a decade and has long ago died off. R.I.P.
Ringleheim
Joined: September 04, 2009
KitMaker: 184 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 20, 2019 - 05:07 AM UTC
I bought the "premium" or whatever Tamiya calls their most expensive cutters about 10 years ago. They are an incredible, precise, durable tool.
Ultra sharp, ultra precise, they actually cut and don't just push through the plastic. They have remained ultra-sharp to this day and I love them.
I think they were like $32 US when I bought them and they were worth every penny.
Ironically, the only part that has shown the test of time is the handle wrapping material, which is like a padded, glued on, foam rubber type of material. It is rubbing down and somewhat deteriorating from sweat/oils in my hands, etc.
If and when they get to the point where it's time to buy another pair, I'll buy another of the same from Tamiya, and keep rolling.
Tamiya tools, for the most part, are excellent.
The other nippers I would consider are "God Hand" you can get them on Ebay from Japan, but they are even more expensive.
Ultra sharp, ultra precise, they actually cut and don't just push through the plastic. They have remained ultra-sharp to this day and I love them.
I think they were like $32 US when I bought them and they were worth every penny.
Ironically, the only part that has shown the test of time is the handle wrapping material, which is like a padded, glued on, foam rubber type of material. It is rubbing down and somewhat deteriorating from sweat/oils in my hands, etc.
If and when they get to the point where it's time to buy another pair, I'll buy another of the same from Tamiya, and keep rolling.
Tamiya tools, for the most part, are excellent.
The other nippers I would consider are "God Hand" you can get them on Ebay from Japan, but they are even more expensive.
wildbill426
Joined: December 08, 2006
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 375 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - 02:47 AM UTC
Boy, you guys like to spend my money, LOL! I had never heard of God Hand cutters until yesterday; I just ordered them from Amazon today. I'll weigh in on them once I use them; the photos on the site looked quite impressive!
panzerbob01
Joined: March 06, 2010
KitMaker: 3,128 posts
Armorama: 2,959 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - 03:34 AM UTC
This thread is a marketer's dream come true! Product marketers always face some version of "how do I get the people to take some interest in and try my here-to-fore obscure product?" Usually, this is done through some type of ad campaign... But the ideal route is to somehow get the potential market itself to rev up its interest and seek your product. And if you can get that to happen without spending any money, all the better! 
And here we are! The "God Hand clipper" people have made it! All the good stuff has appeared in this thread: We have product testimonials "spontaneously appearing", there is fervent and feverish promotion of the "new" and "great" product, there's a great generation of a clear and loud "us versus them" sentiment-expression concerning the "lowly and poorly-performing" competitor's product(s), a sense of performance quality and controversy is being generated among potential customers, curiosity is being aroused among those previously naive or ignorant concerning the possibilities ostensibly offered by the "new" product, a growing sense of "mystery" and "maybe I NEED to TRY this" is being promulgated, product name-recognition is rapidly disseminating and escalating among the potential new buyers, a sense of "YOU are missing out on a great thing" and "Come on IN and join OUR club" is being generated among the to-this-point uninterested folks, along with the generation of a clear suggestion that those who are not "with it (the new product and using it" are somehow deficient and perhaps a bit second-rate at some "bigger picture" (in this case, modelers prepping parts for their builds).
Dang! And this all at probably no cost whatsoever to the God Hand clipper people (probably completely without their knowledge, intent, or participation)! This is the DREAM of folks trying to sell a "new mousetrap" in a world full of great mouse-catching devices.
And, to be sure, EVERY POLITICIAN lusts for this sort of thing to happen for them!
The MOST EFFECTIVE marketing strategy is often to let the potential market sell your product for you for FREE!
All GREAT FUN, I think!
Bob
And here we are! The "God Hand clipper" people have made it! All the good stuff has appeared in this thread: We have product testimonials "spontaneously appearing", there is fervent and feverish promotion of the "new" and "great" product, there's a great generation of a clear and loud "us versus them" sentiment-expression concerning the "lowly and poorly-performing" competitor's product(s), a sense of performance quality and controversy is being generated among potential customers, curiosity is being aroused among those previously naive or ignorant concerning the possibilities ostensibly offered by the "new" product, a growing sense of "mystery" and "maybe I NEED to TRY this" is being promulgated, product name-recognition is rapidly disseminating and escalating among the potential new buyers, a sense of "YOU are missing out on a great thing" and "Come on IN and join OUR club" is being generated among the to-this-point uninterested folks, along with the generation of a clear suggestion that those who are not "with it (the new product and using it" are somehow deficient and perhaps a bit second-rate at some "bigger picture" (in this case, modelers prepping parts for their builds).
Dang! And this all at probably no cost whatsoever to the God Hand clipper people (probably completely without their knowledge, intent, or participation)! This is the DREAM of folks trying to sell a "new mousetrap" in a world full of great mouse-catching devices.
And, to be sure, EVERY POLITICIAN lusts for this sort of thing to happen for them!
The MOST EFFECTIVE marketing strategy is often to let the potential market sell your product for you for FREE!
All GREAT FUN, I think!
Bob
wildbill426
Joined: December 08, 2006
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 375 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - 04:33 AM UTC
Bob: You're correct. I sell a non-hobby product that works along the same lines. I often don't know about discussions like this until my phone starts to ring. It's called word of mouth advertising and it's the best thing ever for a whoever sells the product!
LonCray
Joined: August 24, 2005
KitMaker: 348 posts
Armorama: 256 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 25, 2019 - 12:08 AM UTC
I can't speak to the God Hand cutters, but I'd like to note that I broke one of my Xuron cutters a few years ago and they replaced them for free with no hassle at all.
wildbill426
Joined: December 08, 2006
KitMaker: 403 posts
Armorama: 375 posts
Posted: Friday, July 26, 2019 - 01:53 AM UTC
I got my God Hand nippers yesterday and tried them last night. They are completely different than any other nipper I've used. I was able to get some cuts that were so clean they required no cleanup. Also, they don't make parts jump from the sprue; they gently fall when they're cut. I am impressed! I intend to take extra special care of them but over time I think they'll end up saving money, saving time looking for lost pieces and making better models for me.
Wierdy
Joined: January 26, 2010
KitMaker: 570 posts
Armorama: 553 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 09:01 PM UTC
ctkwok
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 01, 2019 - 12:58 AM UTC
Better yet watch Paul Budzik who did a thorough job explaining the differences.
https://youtu.be/oJFYCHfjXYc
https://youtu.be/oJFYCHfjXYc
Kevlar06
Joined: March 15, 2009
KitMaker: 3,670 posts
Armorama: 2,052 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 01, 2019 - 03:49 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Better yet watch Paul Budzik who did a thorough job explaining the differences.
https://youtu.be/oJFYCHfjXYc
When all else fails....check with Paul! For those of you who have never been there, Paul has one of the best Modeling "How To" sites on the web:
http://paulbudzik.com
VR, Russ
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